TravelCommons
It’s As Much About the Journey as the Destination
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Can AI really plan a better trip? After testing ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI models on a Burgundy vacation, I found they’re surprisingly good at building itineraries and weather forecasts—but they’re no substitute for local research, good judgment, or the instincts of an experienced traveler. Continue Reading →
Two cancelled planes, four airline agents, and one creative French train booking — this is how we finally made it to Lyon. Here’s what millions of miles of travel experience taught us about pushing back, staying calm, and finding the silver lining when your trip falls apart at the gate. Continue Reading →
Final stop on my Gulf Coast Mardi Gras road trip is Lafayette and Cajun Country. Parades and Cajun history in Lafayette; small-town festivals and local music in Mamou and Eunice; following the boudin trail with fresh pork cracklins at the end. Continue Reading →
Packing rules for retired travelers change, and not just because trips are longer. Updates to carry-on packing rules with 3 new rules road warriors never needed Continue Reading →
Stop 2 of our Gulf Coast Mardi Gras road trip drops us into New Orleans for parades, oysters, king cake, and a little parade-weather luck. We revisit old favorites like Pêche and Cochon Butcher. Includes parade strategy, neighborhood notes, and where to eat and drink. Continue Reading →
First stop on a Gulf Coast Mardi Gras Road Trip: Mobile, Alabama, where they throw full boxes of Moon Pies at your head and claim they invented the whole thing before New Orleans. Three-generation families working parade routes like pros, krewe barn parties, and a rainy Sunday hunt for the best king cake. Continue Reading →
After wrapping up the podcast with Episode #200, TravelCommons is back — in writing this time. With retirement replacing road warrior life, Mark will balance destination stories with advice about trip logistics that actually matters. He leans into serendipity, shares examples from Maine and Hungary trip planning, and lays out his future plans for the blog. Continue Reading →
Here are the travel and food recommendations I’ve been giving for quick trips to Nashville, Louisville, and Memphis… and a longer one to Oaxaca Continue Reading →
Finishing 19 years of podcasting where I’ve been thinking way too much about travel, I indulge in some nostalgia and talk about my personal travel philosophy Continue Reading →
Using my face as my boarding pass to get on a flight to Oaxaca, Mexico and then as my passport to get back in the US got me thinking about how facial recognition has permeated the travel experience. To help us understand where this is going, we talk with two travel industry experts, Dr. Sheldon Continue Reading →